mental illness, including a call for an inclusive curriculum and pedagogy.4 This involves facilitating a holistic, integrated university environment that promotes the exchange of ideas and supports student well-being. One way to address this is to encourage forest bathing on campus. Forest bathing (shinrin-yoku) is a term coined in 1982 to describe an ancient Japanese practice.6 At its core, forest bathing is a form of nature-therapy that involves using all five senses to engage with nature. Forest bathing is rooted in the biophilia hypothesis that humans have a subconscious urge to connect with the natural world.6 By directly interacting with nature through our various sensory pathways, forest bathing encourages our biophilia. Recent research suggests that forest bathing has many positive psychological and physiological effects, including re08
duced stress and anxiety, increased immune functioning, and improved overall happiness.7 Along with these human health benefits, forest bathing may also have environmental benefits. Studies have found that people who spend time in nature are more willing to protect it.8 As a result, I’ve created this field guide for you: the urban student. I hope it will help you find your place in the urban ecosystem.
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